Happy Black Friday!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Since today is a big shopping day, I wanted to share the holiday open house that took place a couple of weeks ago at my home away from home, The Backdrop. My dear friends sure know how to throw an open house. Everyone left with smiles on their faces and bags full of gifts and treasures for themselves.

People were lining up before the doors were even open. When the postman dropped off their mail he asked if there was a rock star around with so many people lining up.

I caught one of Santa's elves in the act!

There were flying turtles

butterflies

birds

and feathers

and soft pillows to name a few

Every nook and cranny was filled to the rim .Corners had their themes. Gregg said this corner reminded him of me

I'm thinking this corner is more my style

There were santas

and more santas

Depending on the time of day you are reading this post I either will be tossing and turning thinking about the wedding today, waiting for the alarm to go off. Or I have begun taking photos and well into Brittany and Doug's special day. Wishing I had this little flask in my hip pocket!

Whatever your plans are today and this weekend. I'm sending you warm wishes

For a golden weekend my friends!

Hugs,

Joyce

xo

Corner View: menu al día

This week's theme is to take everyone to a typical restaurant in our town and what we would find on the menu.

I have shared often one of our favorite places Lindy's Landing here in town. It is on Bangs Lake so not only is the food great so is the view and seeing friends too.

One of my favorite dish, is the Talipia fish with mango sauce

for an appetizer is their artichoke dip with pita chips

They change their menu ever season. I happen to have a photo of their summer menu.

This is their lobster sandwich they offer during the summer. Oh dear I think it is lobster, but I loved in any ways.

Since we are the topic of food and you know how much I LOVE cookbooks, you can see HERE . Plus you know how much I enjoy sharing wonderful things.

I received this beautiful cookbook filled with tasty ice cream recipes and wonderful photos from Kathy over at Purple Flowers. The cookbook is written by her sister inlaw pastry chef Emily Luchetti.

Stop on over and visit both of their blogs Kathy's corner will warm your heart with sweetness and Emily's blog will fill your tummy with wonderful tasty recipes.

Also don't forget to vist our corner view friends (list of cv on the right column) to see their favorite places to eat.

With tomorrow being Thanksgiving I want to take this time to wish you all a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm thankful for my wonderful husband, family, all of my friends here and near, and my many blessings. Most of us will be sitting at a table full of wonderful food surround with family and friends, please take a moment to think of those not so fortunate.

Warm and golden wishes for a safe holiday!
Joyce
xo

We Are Packed...

the car is loaded and we are off!

I love these colorful parasols. The colors remind me of warm sun and beaches.

The last serveral months local photographer Jennifer with Just Between You, Me and the Fence Post has spent some time with me trying to get comfortable with my camera.

Even her daughter Rhianna joined in the fun. Jennifer has some old wedding gowns and Rhianna volunteered to dress up so I could take some photos.

This was one of the coldest days, but through it all Rhianna was wonderful! We were all chilled to the bones and afterwards went for hot cocoa to warm up.

Thank you Jennifer for your time, for holding my hand and your patiences with me. Through this all I have a gained a friend and admiration for photographers, who do this for a living and are able to capture the beauty of a special day in a couple's life.

Would you believe I already have some posts lined up this week? I even was able to do corner view this Wednesday. I think I need to go on more vacations to be so organized!

I hope I can find some time to visit your corner of the world while we are gone, if not I will stop by when we return December 1st.

Have a golden and blessed week my friends!
Joyce

xo

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Happy Friday: My Little Chair

I first saw and heard of a birthing chair over at Linda's blog coconuts and limes last year, and fell in love with the style of this little chair.

About a month ago there was an estate sale and for sale was not one but two of these chairs!
After breakfast with my friends Tracy and Karla we head over to the sale. I purchased one of the chairs and Karla got the other one. Only to shortly be on her way over to our home to drop off her chair, when Tracy decided to try it in her home.

This little chair is not one Gary's favorite choices of my treasure finds. It could be the name of the chair that isn't "sitting" right with him. I emailed Linda to reassure a couple of husbands in the neighborhood these three legged chairs are most likely a reproduction and not the real thing, purchased somewhere in South America.

My love has different visions of the chair, but when I walk past my chair it makes me smile and think of Linda, the day I spend with friends and the laughs behind this chair.

If you need a vacation without leaving the luxury of your home, stop on over and visit Linda here . She will take you on some of the most beautiful homes and places to visit. She has a guest house (where I first saw the chairs) to die for or at least spend some time to relax and enjoy the sun. Rumor has it a group of photographers and stylists from a magazine were having a wonderful time at her home.

Have a golden weekend my friends!
Joyce
xo

Corner View: Cell Phone Madness

Oops a little late for this week's post. Oh dear, I have been having problems with posting lately on my little blog. For the last couple of weeks I'm unable copy and paste, and last night I couldn't download any photos. Does anyone have any ideas, suggestions or have the same problem, please share. OK now onto the fun. I was able to dowload this morning- YAHOO!

This week's theme was when our cell phone rings, take a photo at that moment of what we are doing. The last couple of days I have been close to home getting things ready and cleaning. When I'm home I turn off my cell, but here is a peek of some things I was doing when the home phone rang.

Here is a little toy I purchased for Riley. Our little houseguest that we dog sit for at times. She is coming for a couple of days before we leave.

Tweaking my love note to my mom about Kelly while we are gone.

Going through recipes for the holidays

Getting things ready for a little holiday show the following weekend we get back. This little beauty was made by a 70 year young woman, my friend Catherine knows in Florida. I think they will look wonderful as a gift topper (to put on top of a gift. Don't you?

Writing a couple of notecards.

To see more cell phone madness visit our corner view friends (list on the right side of the page) .

Have a golden day my friends!

xo

Reflection

I saw this reflection on our wall, over the weekend as I was going through my to do list. I thought it looked pretty cool and a reminder to breathe.

We leave next Monday for our friend's wedding in sunny Florida and my lists get longer and longer for home, work and the wedding. I have three lists alone printed out about Kelly (vet info, her routine and eating schedule) for my mom and nephew. Thank goodness they love me!

Our friends Brittany and Doug asked me to take their wedding photos. Oh dear I sure hope the camera fairies are on my side. The pit in my stomach is getting bigger and the cameras are packed.

How many list or lists do you make when you leave home?

Hugs my friends,

xo

P.S. The little leaf from Friday's post finally flew away this weekend until next Spring.

A Golden Friday

The last remaining leaf of the season on our little maple tree.

Have a golden weekend my friends!

Hugs,

xoxo

Corner View: Favorite Dish

This week's topic could be your favorite food dish, a favorite serving dish or plate or simply talk dish.

I was hoping to have a photo of one my favorite desert dishes, a pie made by my mom. The time slipped away from me before I realized I forgot to ask her! Gary and I went out for a bit on Sunday afternoon (another blog posting) and they happen to have an apple pie.

Another pie that ranks up there is my friend Mike's pies (a.k.a known as the pie man). This is a photo of one of his pies I took about a year ago and probably the last time I had one of his pies. (Hint Mikey)

I'm sure I have posted this candy dish before, but it is one of my favorite porcelain pieces I painted. It brings fond memories of my days of painting with my china painting friends, the tears and laughters we shared over life and the struggles, of painting roses.

Oh my, if you only knew how many seminars I have taken and still unable to paint a rose the way I see it.

For more exciting dishes visit our corner view friends (list under corner view on the right side of the page)

Have a golden day!

Hugs,

xoxo

"Best dishes and best wishes"

Paula Deen

Eco Friendly Party Favors

One of my latest projects this past week was party favors. My Catherine, asked if I would help with the party favors for the bridal shower she was hosting this past weekend.

The theme for the shower was white and eco friendly. That was easy for me, I baked sugar cookies and mexican wedding cookies

I cut 2 sheets of wax paper to fit the boxes. Each box was filled with five mexican wedding cookies, topping it with one sugar cookie.

Folded the wax paper over and tied with a natural twine string.

To help save Catherine some time, we met at a gas station the other night. As we were moving boxes from my car to hers, exchaning money, there was a gent in his car watching us. I thought oh great we are going to have visitors soon. Lucky for both of us we made it home safely!

I wish I had a finished photo of the boxes, but Catherine was going home to add a teabag to each box and beautiful toppers she made out of old book pages.

Have a golden day!

Hugs,

xoxo

P.S. I will be sharing more in the months ahead about Catherine. She and her garden will be featured in a magazine in January. Later this week I will have some photos from the wonderful holiday open house The Backdrop had over the weekend.

Happy Friday! Friday Night Dinner

I recently made this recipe, I found in the October issue of Real Simple magazine . It is fast, easy and tasty!


Ravioli with Apples and Walnuts
Serves 4

1 pound cheese ravioli (fresh or frozen)
2 T olive oil
1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1 crisp Braeburn or Gala apple, cut into matchsticks
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook the ravioli according to the package directions.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the walnuts and cook, stirring often, until lightly toasted and fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes. I like my slightly crispy!

Add the apple, parsley, salt and pepper, toss to combine. Spoon over the ravioli and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Easy, huh?!

Have a golden weekend my friends!
Hugs,



xo